Friday, July 30, 2010

5 years ago today

5 years ago today, I married my husband, at my family’s cabin in Red Lodge Montana.

I know you may all be tired of hearing me ramble on this week about our anniversary, but the 5-year mark has me thinking a lot about that day.

It was a very homemade wedding—family members, friends, and I made all the food; my mother, mother-in-law, and I sewed the wedding dress, and a large contingent of friends arrived at our cabin about a week early to help decorate the place.

I loaded up my old station wagon with flowers, and we spent the day before the wedding making bouquets and corsages, among sundry other things….I will never forget the way my car smelled as I drove up into the mountains.

In the evenings, the intrepid wedding party relaxed from their labors with a hookah and some drinks down by the creek (I therefore always associate the sweet smell of hookah tobacco with my wedding. Go figure)

what to do? all the guests had arrived, but the wedding was outside! I waited anxiously upstairs while hearing all my friends and family milling about the cabin, wondering if the rain would hold—I couldn’t come down because my husband had yet to see the dress…

luckily, the rain cleared up and the wedding went off without a problem (except my Grandpa got up and peed on the ‘altar’ after we had said our vows. The guests were amused at that, of course)

My dad, a choral director, led some folks in a choral rendition of ‘set me as a seal upon your heart’ and Vaughan Williams’ arrangement of “See the Chariot at Hand”

but then, the best part; the reception at the back of the cabin. The beers and wines were cooled in the little glacial stream that ran by the cabin; the cake was covered in rose petals and whipped cream (YUM)

everyone looked incredible in the romantic evening light. It was a joy to see so many people we loved in one place.

My parents, my brother (far right) and his best friend were the band.

I think my mother is very beautiful.

everyone danced into the wee hours.

but I think my favorite part of it all was seeing my husband’s delighted smile

All pictures taken by our close friend, professional photographer Annie P. Warren

I can't lurk any longer...when I saw this post I had to tell you that I've been enjoying your blog for awhile now, and these wedding photos are so incredibly beautiful! The flowers, the cake, the setting -- it reminds me of A Midsummer's Dream, as if you got married in a place where fairies were spinning their magic. And you and your husband are too pretty for words!

Sarah,I agree with Tamara. I, too, have found myself musing over and speaking of events surrounding my wedding and honeymoon - perhaps due to the 5 year anniversary. I think it just shows that you were really happy with the overall results in spite of the little snags along the way and it created beautiful memories for you to cherish. Joy is infectious in the best possible way. The photographs are lovely. Thanks for sharing.

What a wonderful record of your perfect day. Love the photo of you sprawled on the bed fretting about the rain, and the one of you in the field sporting your leafy garland, like Titania from Midsummer Night's Dream! Your mother is indeed very beautiful - and she sings!

Flittersniffer, You are full of generous compliments. I am totally ok with being likened to Titania (LOL!) and I agree, my mom is beautiful, both inside and out!

OperaFan, I think what you say is right. Of course, there are always snags along the way, but the fact that we are musing so positively on the wedding and its results is definitely a good sign. Congrats again to you too.

Robin, thanks for stopping by, and I too am sorry you couldn't be there, but we understood! Much love to you and F!

Tamara, Baby! about your "BTW, no one can get tired of hearing a grateful , content person talk about their good life. It's nice to know it exists............" I don't know if I am that person, but your comment inspires me to try to be here more of the time. I try to focus on the positive things in my life on this blog--it's not all roses and love and happiness. But I do feel grateful for many things, as I am sure do you..

Late to the, er, party... many congratulations on five years. A good relationship makes the whole world a little sweeter.

I love, LOVE, "Set Me as a Seal" - so glad you had that! The one thing I wish I'd done differently about my wedding was to have more music. It was strictly low-budget all the way: afternoon ceremony at my home church, cake and punch in the fellowship hall. Dress from the bridal shop's discontinued-sample rack. Amateur flowers. The soloist was a friend from the choral society. If I'd had my way about it, I'd have spent another $200 on honoraria and had a quartet - and at least one congregational hymn, despite the minister's insistence that a short, unfussy ceremony would be best.

That was 18 years ago... we're still married. Thanks again for sharing memories and photos with us!

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Musing about the Good Life

Welcome to an eclectic world of aesthetic delight! This site explores what it means to prioritize a life lived sensually, with an emphasis on that most neglected of faculties, smell. Here you'll find perfume reviews and musings, recipes, bookish thoughts, and rhapsodies on all things that fill our lives with art in little, yet important, ways.